Your Complete 2014 Oscar Predictions! Who Will Win, Should Win in All Categories?

Friday, January 24, 2014, 07:08 PMPosted by Manny

The Oscar nominations for the 86th Academy Awards have been announced but who will win and who should win? In a banner year for great movies, 2013 gave us thought-provoking and entertaining experience at the cinema. On Oscar night, Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” will take home the top prize but Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity” will win all the technical awards including Best Director. Quite fitting since one provoked (“12 Years”) and the other entertained (“Gravity”).

And for those who know me, the Academy Awards is my Super Bowl! I’m a nerd when it comes to the Oscars! So I tried to predict the winners to help you in your Oscar pool.

And here's my complete and utterly fearless 2014 Oscar predictions:

Actor in a Leading RoleChristian Bale in “American Hustle”Bruce Dern in “Nebraska”Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”Chiwetel Ejiofor in “12 Years a Slave”Matthew McConaughey in “Dallas Buyers Club”

WILL WIN: Matthew McConaugheySHOULD WIN: Matthew McConaughey

Actor in a Supporting RoleBarkhad Abdi in “Captain Phillips”Bradley Cooper in “American Hustle”Michael Fassbender in “12 Years a Slave”Jonah Hill in “The Wolf of Wall Street”Jared Leto in “Dallas Buyers Club”

WILL WIN: Jared LetoSHOULD WIN: Jared Leto

Actress in a Leading RoleAmy Adams in “American Hustle”Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”Sandra Bullock in “Gravity”Judi Dench in “Philomena”Meryl Streep in “August: Osage County”

WILL WIN: Cate BlanchettSHOULD WIN: Sandra Bullock

But I’ll be happy either way!

Actress in a Supporting RoleSally Hawkins in “Blue Jasmine”Jennifer Lawrence in “American Hustle”Lupita Nyong’o in “12 Years a Slave”Julia Roberts in “August: Osage County”June Squibb in “Nebraska”

I love Oppenheimer’s “The Act of Killing” and with its cinema background (the Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their killings as interpreted by their favorite movies), it may work with the Academy. But I also love “20 Feet from Stardom” which has been creating Oscar buzz since last summer.

Documentary Short Subject“CaveDigger” Jeffrey Karoff“Facing Fear” Jason Cohen“Karama Has No Walls” Sara Ishaq“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall” Edgar Barens

Music (Original Song)“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyric by Dennis Spiegel“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams“Let It Go” from “Frozen”Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez“The Moon Song” from “Her”Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”Music by Paul Hewson, Dave Evans, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen; Lyric by Paul Hewson

WILL WIN: “Let It Go” – are you still singing the “Frozen” song? Yeah? Well there you go!SHOULD WIN: “Please Mr. Kennedy,” oh wait, it was not nominated (darn you Academy!), so my heart now belongs to “Let It Go.”

WILL WIN: “12 Years a Slave”SHOULD WIN: “Before Midnight” – Because I love the trilogy!

Writing (Original Screenplay)“American Hustle” Written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell“Blue Jasmine” Written by Woody Allen“Dallas Buyers Club” Written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack“Her” Written by Spike Jonze“Nebraska” Written by Bob Nelson

Vanessa Hudgens stars in the new movie “Gimme Shelter.” She gained weight to play Apple, a teen mom who must choose between her new life as a mother and her own parents. The movie is a bit melodramatic but Hudgens gave her all to the role much like her memorable performance in last year’s “Spring Breakers” and “Frozen Ground.”

In this interview, we talked about:

*** What got her interested in making “Gimme Shelter”*** How she picked the characters she plays*** How she prepared as Apple*** What she learned from hanging around with teen mothers*** She gained weight, and dove into the psyche of her character, we’re talking about Oscar territory here*** I’m proud of my fellow Filipino!

Alfonso Cuaron's "Gravity" and Steve McQueen's "12 Years a Slave" both won the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for outstanding producer of theatrical motion pictures at the 2014 Producers Guild of America awards. It's an unprecedented tie that just makes the Academy Awards much more unpredictable!

"We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks" took home the documentary trophy while "Frozen" won the animated category.

David O. Russell's "American Hustle" was the big winner of the 20th Screen Actors Guild Awards taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture trophy. Matthew McConaughey continues to shine this awards season by taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role award. In one week, McConaughey has taken home the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Best Actor trophies.

Doing exactly the same thing is Cate Blanchett winning the SAG Best Actress Award for "Blue Jasmine." She also won the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Best Actress honors.

Also winning the triple threat of Globes, Critics' Choice, and SAG is Jared Leto for his wonderful performance as the transgendered Rayon in "Dallas Buyers Club."

Will McConaughey, Blanchett, and Leto continue their winning streaks at the upcoming Oscars?

You better believe it!

And yes, I'm also hoping that Lupita Nyong'O, Hollywood's current "It" girl, will take home the Oscars Best Supporting Actress trophy just like how she took home the SAG Best Supporting Actress award tonight!

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesAngela Bassett, Betty & CorettaHelena Bonham Carter, Burton & TaylorHolly Hunter, Top of the LakeHelen Mirren, Phil Spector -- WINNERElisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama SeriesSteve Buscemi, Boardwalk EmpireBryan Cranston, Breaking Bad -- WINNERJeff Daniels, The NewsroomPeter Dinklage, Game of ThronesKevin Spacey, House of Cards

Two movies for this weekend, we have "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" for action fans and "The Nut Job" for kids. In "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," Chris Pine steps into some mighty big shoes once worn by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, and Ben Affleck. The character is from the vivid imagination of Tom Clancy. Kenneth Branagh co-stars and directs this reboot with Kevin Costner and Keira Knightley lending supporting help.

In "The Nut Job," the all-star animated 3D adventure tells the tale of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett) and his quest to get nuts! Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, and Katherine Heigl also provide voice performances.

Which one is my pick of the week between "Jack Ryan" and "The Nut Job?" Check out my movie reviews.